Moore Equine Veterinary Centre

05/09/2025

05/02/2025

Great opportunity for some free continuing education on insulin dysregulation and PPID in horses!

Diagnostic and therapeutic tools for endocrine disease, the most common underlying cause of laminitis, are rapidly evolving and improving our ability to prevent and treat laminitis in horses.

Learn more about these emerging approaches during the next virtual First Tuesday Lecture when Andrew van Eps, professor of equine musculoskeletal research and board-certified large animal internist, dives into his latest research.

This event is free and open to the public.

🐴 Insulin Dysregulation and PPID: Testing and Treatment Protocols to Keep Laminitis at Bay
🗓️May 6, 2025, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/3CgQIvX

04/21/2025

We absolutely love when clinics can collaborate together for the health of a horse…and a brand new baby in this case! Well done Dr. Hamza and Dr. Floyd, your dedication to patient care is above and beyond 👏🏻❤️

04/15/2025

04/01/2025

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES GRASS FOUNDER?

Spring is a wonderful time of the year, but it may be the beginning of some serious problems for horses vulnerable to grass founder — like horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked.

Laminitis or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (the bone in the foot). A horse suffering from laminitis experiences a decrease in blood flow to the laminae, which in turn begin to die and separate. The final result is hoof wall separation, rotation of the coffin bone and extreme pain. In severe cases, the coffin bone will actually rotate through the sole of the horse’s hoof where it becomes infected and can ultimately lead to the horse having to be euthanized.

Laminitis can be triggered by different causes, like repeated concussion on hard ground (road founder), grain overload, retained placenta, hormonal imbalance (Cushing’s syndrome), obesity, and lush grass.

In cases of grass founder, the sugar fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins (endotoxins) that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.

The best way to deal with laminitis is preventing and managing the causes under your control. Consult your equine practitioner for further information and to formulate a plan tailored to your horse's individual situation. If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately.

03/25/2025

Foaling season is in full swing and here are some useful tips to keep in mind as you work to raise your four-legged youngsters.

A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your very eyes. From birth to age 2, a young horse can achieve 90% or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as 3 pounds per day. The nutritional start a foal gets can have a profound effect on its health and soundness for the rest of its life. Research suggests that a balanced dietary approach, which supports no more than a moderate growth rate, is less likely to cause developmental problems like contracted tendons, epiphysitis, angular limb deformities and osteochondrosis.

Work with your equine practitioner to develop a total health care plan based on your foal's, weanling's and yearling's specific needs. The reward for providing excellent nutrition, conscientious care and a safe environment will be a healthy foal that grows into a sound and useful horse!

To read more about foal care and nutrition, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/client-education-presentation-foal-growth/

03/20/2025

If you find a on your pet, yourself, someone else, or anywhere outside, Alberta Health asks you to submit it for testing as part of a tick surveillance program. https://bit.ly/3Tzglh7

03/14/2025

There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the stomach or intestines. Therefore, it stands to good reason that understanding the anatomy of your horse’s digestive system can help you become a better steward for your equine friend.

Fun fact: many people associate digestive health with stomach health. But did you know that the horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals? The stomach of the horse is also the smallest unit of the digestive tract, comprising less than 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. By contrast, the hindgut is huge and plays a significant role in the horse’s digestive process by serving as the home of friendly bacteria that ferment fiber and turn it into energy.

Hindgut problems can produce obvious physical signs like loss of weight, poor condition, poor performance, diarrhea and colic. Some symptoms however can be less obvious, like poor temperament and training issues. The key to ensuring good digestive health is good management practices that include (but are not limited to) establishing a set daily routine; feeding a high-quality diet comprised primarily of high-quality roughage; avoid overloading the digestive tract with concentrate rations; providing clean, fresh water at all times; establishing a regular turnout and exercise routine; setting up a regular deworming and dental care program with your veterinarian; reducing stress and making any changes (to diet, housing and exercise) gradually.

Consult your veterinarian about how to maximize your horse’s digestive health. A healthy horse is a happy horse!

03/13/2025

As spring approaches, and unfortunately so does "mud season", sooner or later nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean? This diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

03/13/2025

Learn about fibrotic myopathy, MFM, botulism, PSSM, and HYPP and how they affect horses.